The Profound Utility of the Dharma Body: An Interview with Lay Practitioner Huang Nianzu

The Lifelong Quest for the Pure Land

There was a day when I was preparing my simple lunch. Just as I was about to eat, I realised that my scripture text was missing a crucial point. I was in the midst of compiling the Infinite Life Sutra, intending to leave this precious work for those who study the Pure Land practice. My entire room was filled with scriptures, as I needed to verify every detail. I wanted to record the essence of the Pure Land teachings as passed down by the ancient masters, so that future learners would not have to spend so much time seeking verification. This was a great task I had hoped to complete in my lifetime.

Whether one studies Tibetan Buddhism, the Chan school, or the Pure Land school, all place great emphasis on the literature left behind by the sages. This serves as a reliable reference for future generations. I resided in Beijing, which is a vital stronghold for Buddhism. The Pure Land Society founded by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju was located there, and the national Buddhist association was also based in Beijing. It is clear that Beijing is a significant base for Buddhism. From a young age, I learned Buddhism from my mother and my uncle, Mei Guangxi. The first sutra I studied at the society was the Diamond Sutra. When it spoke of 'giving rise to the mind that dwells nowhere,' I, at the age of twenty, gained a deep understanding of this phrase.

Later, my uncle urged me to study under Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju. Upon arriving in Beijing, I found that the Buddhist community spoke of two representative figures: 'Mei in the South and Xia in the North.' With the permission of Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, I began to study the Pure Land Dharma Gate under his guidance.

The Legacy of the Pure Land Society

Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju was the founder and first president of the Beijing Pure Land Society. After he passed away, I, Nianzu, succeeded him. In the name of the vast ocean of Amitabha Buddha's vows, I connected with the world through the internet, though the core remained the Pure Land Society. Throughout my journey in Buddhism, I also studied Tibetan Buddhism and received oral transmissions of mantras, such as the heart mantra of Guru Rinpoche, from my masters. After I committed myself to the Pure Land path, I chanted the name of Namo Amituofo 140,000 times daily. Eventually, because the Infinite Life Sutra was completed, it was rumoured that I died from overwork. This was not the case. While I understood the esoteric teachings, I had not truly mastered them. When I left this world at seventy-nine, I knew my karmic sins were heavy, which is why I diligently chanted the Buddha's name. I did not realise then that the Buddha-name I chanted was already sending away the spirits residing within my body. At that time, I did not understand that chanting could perform Chao Du for one's own karmic creditors.

The Compassionate Mission of Practitioner Su

Since 2012, my true self has visited the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia to participate in the invitation of spirits. Looking back, it has been nine years. About six months after Practitioner Su completed his retreat in Australia, he brought the fourfold assembly of disciples to the Beijing Pure Land Society. Guided by the Secretary-General, Cheng Yuan, they met with Xia Fasheng, the grandson of Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju. The two spoke happily. Fasheng was straightforward and cheerful, smoking like a mischievous child, while Practitioner Su was a hero among women, a person of great stature. Their main topic of discussion was why the commentary on the Infinite Life Sutra ended up in the hands of Venerable Master Chin Kung. Fasheng believed that since I, Huang Nianzu, had authored the commentary for his granddaughter, it should not have been with the Venerable Master. At that time, Practitioner Su invited Practitioner Cai, who could communicate with the Buddha, to speak with Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, as Practitioner Su knew that Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju was the reincarnation of Great Master Xuanzang, and Practitioner Cai was a disciple of that same master. I, Huang Nianzu, stood by, wanting to speak, but out of respect for Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, I chose to step back and listen to his teachings.

Practitioner Su's invitation of spirits was misunderstood by Venerable Master Chin Kung. Practitioner Su invited Xia Fasheng to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. When Practitioner Su offered to gift the Buddha hall to Fasheng, he refused, so Practitioner Su had to return to Taiwan to continue his diligent practice.

Clearing the Heavens of Beijing

Seeing the grey, hazy sky of Beijing filled with countless spirits, Practitioner Su immediately chanted and visualised their Chao Du. After returning to Taiwan, he continued to perform Chao Du during every Dharma assembly for the sky and sandstorms of Beijing, which were filled with the souls of generals and soldiers from past wars. Through Practitioner Su's compassion, after the Dharma assembly, these spirits chanted the Buddha's name, left the space, and walked toward the light.

Modern practitioners fear hardship and injury, valuing their physical bodies too highly, which ultimately leads to nothing. I, Huang Nianzu, actually suffered from many illnesses. For the sake of preserving the Dharma, I closed my doors to visitors around 1979 and began to study various books on the Pure Land practice. Over eight years, I wrote the commentary for the Infinite Life Sutra, which was compiled by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju. Knowing my physical condition and wishing to cherish time, I chanted 140,000 times a day.

The Power of the Dharma Body

Practitioner Su helped me reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Since then, he has invited me to participate in several spirit-invitation events, and I have also joined the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies. In his daily morning visualisations, Practitioner Su uses different methods to save beings, most notably the visualisation of the Dharma Body manifesting in countless forms. Nine years later, Practitioner Su's vow to save beings is even firmer, and his commitment to the Pure Land Dharma Gate is even more resolute. The future headquarters of the Pure Land school is currently under construction. By truly saving beings and acting with the same heart and vows as the Buddha, we can save countless suffering beings and attain Buddhahood together. This allows every practitioner to know that rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the only true liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

This Dharma assembly surprised me. We all know that for those who study Buddhism, saving beings is easy, and learning the Dharma is easy. The key lies in healing others while helping them realise their true nature, which depends on individual diligence and the accumulation of blessings and Causal Conditions. Healing and inviting spirits are areas many dare not touch. The reason for this hesitation is that one must have the ability to resolve the conflicts of the spirits one invites. If one lacks the ability to resolve or save them, or if the spirits refuse to be resolved, they will target the invader. Therefore, the one performing the Chao Du must be willing to bear the suffering of the beings. The inviter must have virtue, great compassion, and a vast mind-capacity. Only by being truly selfless can one calm the spirits. This is exactly what Practitioner Su does.

The Four Virtues of Practice

Practitioner Su's fifty trillion cells are almost entirely dedicated to bearing the suffering of others. This includes his Dharma Body visualisations; even spirits who do not go to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss reside within him. When he first began performing Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, his left foot was invaded by spirits, causing his tendons to snap. At that time, he firmly decided: either return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss or stay to save beings. He endured what others could not and practised what others could not. Only those who attend the Dharma assemblies can slightly comprehend this, and the patriarchs and venerable masters know it clearly. Seeing Practitioner Su's dedication, I am reminded of the four virtues of practice mentioned by the Third Patriarch, National Master Xianshou: first, using conditions with skill; second, maintaining dignified conduct; third, being gentle and straightforward; and fourth, bearing the suffering of beings. Practitioner Su embodies these, encouraging the fourfold assembly of disciples. If everyone can vow to save beings and find their Dharma Body, they can save immeasurable beings. If more people realise their true nature, the current age of the Dharma’s decline will turn into the True Teachings, transforming human selfishness into purity and goodness. This is the best proof of the Buddha's teachings.

A Turning Point for the World

Only by being selfless, acting with the Buddha's heart and vows, and truly embodying the Buddha's conduct can one live up to the fact that Namo Amituofo truly abides at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This allows people of the world to understand that the Buddha has truly descended, removing their doubts and inspiring them to participate. Beyond correcting the Earth's path, this can also save the world from the pandemic. At this critical moment, the human heart must turn toward goodness, purity, and kindness to turn the tide. This is a great opportunity to propagate the name of Namo Amituofo. It is a major turning point. Practitioner Su, with great courage and strength, fears no hardship and truly saves all—including the mountains, rivers, earth, flowers, trees, Bodhisattvas of the universe, spirits of the galaxy, the twenty-eight heavens, the Four Sacred Realms, and even the beings in hell. None are left behind; all can be reborn by chanting a single Buddha-name, especially the smallest insects. This is a rare opportunity in thousands of years. When Australia suffered from drought, Practitioner Su led the patriarchs and venerable masters and the fourfold assembly to burn incense and pray for rain, which was successful. Later, he prayed again with an even greater mind-capacity, including the land of Goombungee and Toowoomba, the dust, the plants, and the insects. This too was successful. Afterward, his body and head were attacked by the spirits of these insects. Having been insects for hundreds of lifetimes, they suddenly saw the Buddha-light. Some flew toward the light, while others landed on the glowing body of Practitioner Su. When these spaces were opened, countless spirits came seeking Chao Du. Practitioner Su's compassion was met with attacks from these ignorant spirits. He suffered daily, his skin and head inflamed, yet he gently said, 'I must still save them, for these insects wish to be liberated.' Bearing the suffering of beings is truly not easy, yet Practitioner Su continues his visualisations daily, and countless spirits follow him in chanting and depart.

The Magnificence of the Dharma Assembly

I, Huang Nianzu, have participated in many Dharma assemblies, but I have never seen one as magnificent and vast as those at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. What I admire most is that despite the attacks on his physical body, Practitioner Su's compassion never wavers. He remains positive, always saying, 'Return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss or save the world,' never complaining, only showing compassion and Wisdom. Because of this Chao Du of the earth, dust, plants, and insects, they were able to chant and be liberated. I have also seen Practitioner Su's Dharma Body visualisation skills; they are truly inconceivable. The reality of the Chao Du leaves every participant dumbfounded, and even the patriarchs and venerable masters and Buddhas and Bodhisattvas offer their praise. Whether in China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Australia, Practitioner Su uses different methods each time. During the first Chao Du, he visualised a large incense burner so the patriarchs and venerable masters could offer incense and pray for rain. The rain fell immediately, and the assembly shook the heavenly realms and all Dharma realms. The power of Dharma Body visualisation is truly immeasurable.

The Vastness of Deliverance

Once, while performing Chao Du, Practitioner Su's compassion extended throughout the universe, awakening the mountains, rivers, and earth. The mountain gods, river gods, water gods, and all spirits followed him toward the light. His Chao Du grows larger and larger; it can only be described as 'vast and boundless.' It includes all the rivers of China, the capitals of Beijing, Nanjing, and Chang'an, and even the sandstorms of Beijing. Every time Practitioner Su leads the chanting team, the Buddha-light shines, and the chanting sweeps the spirits away. Because the scale of Chao Du is immeasurable, even the demon crowds have seen many of their own surrender. Seeing the dignity of Venerable Changren, those demon children and grandchildren who wished to cause trouble were naturally counteracted by the Bodhisattvas of the universe and the galaxy, who led them to surrender and join the Namo Amituofo chanting team. The more he saves, the more Practitioner Su is attacked, yet he remains joyful, having long ago placed his physical body aside.

The True Meaning of Liberation

During this assembly, Practitioner Su saw his Dharma Body leading so many beings to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. He realised that if his Dharma Body could save so many, he could also save the spirits within himself. He used his Dharma Body to deliver the spirits within his own body to the light. Since these spirits were also there because he bore the suffering of others, he sent them to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It was effective, and they departed in batches. As we chanted, we saw the patriarchs and venerable masters leading their disciples and followers to chant as well. I followed their example, delivering the spirits connected to me. It turns out that Practitioner Su opened the space, allowing spirits from every realm to receive this magnificent opportunity to walk toward the light. In the spiritual realms, spirits respectfully call him 'Practitioner Su,' a title he truly deserves. The main reason is that the spirits he saves are immeasurable, and wherever he goes, whatever he sees, and whatever world he visualises, all spirits are saved. Some go to the human realm, some to the heavenly realms, and some to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, depending on the blessings they have accumulated.

The Path to Awakening

At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, every memorial tablet is filled to capacity, like the sands of the Ganges. This shows that the one leading the Chao Du is no ordinary person. Without true virtue, compassion, and a heart identical to the Buddha's, this could not be done or visualised. From the beginning of his practice, Practitioner Su understood the suffering of life. He knew that everything is illusory, including all emotions—parents, children, friends. As long as there is emotional entanglement, one cannot escape selfishness. Because there is an 'I,' this is a major obstacle to practice. When one truly wishes to save beings and seek rebirth through chanting, one must cut these ties. For most people, the hardest attachments to break are those to parents, spouses, and children.

The most important point is to not cling to anything in the heart. Only then can one maintain a pure heart, where the Six Roots contact the Six Dusts without generating thoughts, and nothing obstructs the mind. Only with such purity can one find one's original nature and gain the ability to save all beings. We are now in the age of the Dharma’s decline. How many practitioners know the terror of this age! Technology has harmed so many—children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly—who are poisoned without even realising it. For example, in the internet world, everyone has a mobile phone. People have the most time and are the most idle, suffering the greatest harm, especially children and the elderly. Adults think that as long as a child has a phone, they will not be noisy. The elderly think that as long as they have videos to watch and can contact relatives, they are fine. They do not realise they are being harmed by technology.

In China, the situation is even more severe. People kill their parents or steal money just to play with phones, seeking endless desires in a virtual world that can never satisfy them. If one does not study Buddhism, think of the 13 billion people in China—how dangerous it is! Only by studying Buddhism can we save them, because chanting the Buddha's name saves all beings. Listening to the Dharma is important. If you can listen to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks, it is a great blessing. This is why I retreated to study the Infinite Life Sutra—to contribute to the preservation of the Dharma. In this age of decline, it is even more important to find the Dharma Body and learn Dharma Body visualisation from Practitioner Su to save immeasurable beings. Saving the world requires more people who possess the Dharma Body. We must turn the age of decline into the True Teachings, help spirits resolve their suffering, and let everyone understand the magnificence of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and the importance of vowing to save beings.

A Call to Action

In every Thrice Yearning Ceremony, I see the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, patriarchs and venerable masters, and Bodhisattvas of the universe actively saving beings, helping them chant and walk toward the light. I have seen Practitioner Su leading the assembly, flying to various places to lead spirits before the Buddha, who reaches out to receive them. This is the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of Practitioner Su. Everyone should make a vow and seize this opportunity!

Fasheng, you are eighty-seven. You have seen the terror of the global pandemic. You should know to do your best to cooperate with Practitioner Su to save the world. Why did Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju name you 'Xia Fonian'? It is so that you may use the Buddha's heart and thoughts to save beings everywhere. Use your influence to save beings and help Practitioner Su! If you feel moved by these words, act immediately so as not to let down the name 'Xia Fonian.' Search for the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre online, and the truth will be revealed.

Cheng Yuan, in the past, Practitioner Su spoke of the fourfold assembly of disciples rising at 2:00 AM to prostrate, chant, recite, and listen to the Dharma without interruption. With your keen awareness, you felt their appearance was like that of celestial beings. Cheng Yuan, they are not just celestial beings! Practitioner Su is a person of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This group of practitioners is still working diligently. They follow the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, are pure and kind, and have established a salvation team. They will soon establish the headquarters of the Pure Land school to cultivate those who have realised their true nature. Cheng Yuan, contribute your wisdom to help them! We must turn the age of decline into the True Teachings. No matter what, you must help Practitioner Su. You have always respected me; do not doubt any longer!

Gratitude for the Buddha's compassion and Practitioner Su's compassion. Chant the Buddha's name, Namo Amituofo.

Huang Nianzu

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Haiyuan